Spark-producing mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



L.T.RHOADE&

SPARK PRODUCING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

' APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 7, 1912.

1,057,009. Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

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LEWIS '1. RHOADES, OF MONT CLARE, PENNSYLVANIA;

srann-rnonocme MEcHAnIsi/tros rivrnnnaL-oomsusrron To (ZZZ whom ifmay concern:

Be it known that l, LEWIS T. Ri-ioAous, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mont Clare, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Producing Mechanism for lnternal- Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved spark producing mechanism for internal combustion engines, the object of the invention being to so control the spark that a single spark of the same intensity is produced at each explosion in each cylinder regardless of the speed of the engine. g

It is a well known fact that the first spark in a shower of sparks caused by an inter rupter does the work of exploding the mixture and the other sparks are-wasted. Various attempts have been made to prevent this waste, and to insure a single uniform spark at all speeds, but such means have been more or less complicated.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide an improved construction of electromagnetically actuated interrupter which so regulates the current flowing through theprimary circuit that but one spark is produced for each explosion or ignitlon, and prevent the waste of electrical energy due to .a shower of sparks common with ordinary sparking means, and also prevent sparking due to the are which is caused by the nrovable contact piece of the timer, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

with these and other obj invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Flgure 1 is a diagrammaticview partly in section andpartly in elevation illustrating my mprove ments, and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a. metal base on which a post2 is secured and v pivotally supports at'its upper end, an armature 3. This armature 3' atits pivoted end is provided with a spring arm 4 en gaged by a set screw 5 screwed into post 2 and tending to elevate the free end of said armature. The free end oi thisarmature 1s Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 7, 1912. Serial No. 729,937.

ects in View the? Patented an. 25, 1 913.

also connected by a coiled spring 6 with an arm Tsecured on the upper end of a post 8 and, insulated therefrom by means of a; block 9. These two springs {l and 6 hold, the armature in such positionvthat its cushioned con; tact 10 engages a contact 11 and this contact 11 is connected bya wire 12 with a helix 13 around a core lei constituting magnet. The other end of the helix 13 is connected by a primary wire 15 with a metal band 16 electrically connected with all of 'the stationary contacts 17 on a timer vl8,the-movable ineinber 19 ofsaid timer connected with one side of a battery or other, sourceiofelectricity supply 20, and the other sidegof' s'aid' battery or electricity supply connected-by a wire 21 to base 1. v The armature 3. comprises bar or strip of relatively flat 'inet'al which projects through an angular sleeve fl of nonconduct-ing materialhaving disks 23 at its ends supported by'bracketsj 24 on {base 1. Around the sleeve 22,;a heliXlZBjisl located, connected in shunt with the circuit a bove described, the wire' 26, at one and o f tlie helix 25 being connected to wire'il and the wire at the other end of the helix f'grou'nded into, basel as indicated at 2 Z Betwee jlth L 7 and wire 12,2; c0ndens'er-281is1 all of the ,parts'aboy'eflescfrioi are illus- .trateddiagrammatically, as it isf to be understoodthatthe particular ai i i' g ement 1s not essential, and furthermore itwil'l be noted that the wires l and lo are insulated from the base by 'sleeves 29 piojected through openings: "the ba'se, and through which the wires In operation, when the circuit'is closedby the timer lSflthrough'jthe me'dium of contacts l9 and 17,,the magniet l will be energized and draw dowfnfarmature 3, in-

stantly openingtlie'j circuit-including the magnet 13, and atfthe same'timeeiiei gizing the armature 3 by r'easenloffthe' helix 2 which is included n shunt-.1" In other words, the part. lawhich formerly constituted the core ofthe magnet: 13, now operates merely as a bar of iron, so that the iarmatur now constituting a magnet is drawn; to this bar of iron because of itsipivotal mounting, or rather is held to thebarltas it was previously jdrawn therea" ainstwhen the bar 14 constituted a core." T iis' armature new constituting a magnet will- 'holdit'self in this position until thebircuit "is bro-ken at the timer, when the parts will return to the "position indicated. 'will'ytheretore he noted that I include in an unbroken circuit with the primary winding, twoelectromag;

nets both in closed magnetic circuit, 'whic can be traced as follows: When the timer closes the circuit, the current flows .from one side of the battery 20 through wire QL-to base 1, thence through post 2, armature 3, contacts 10 and 11,. wire 12, magnet 13, wire timer 18 to the other side of the'battery. This energizes magnet 13 and draws. armature 3 downwardly against the end of core I 14.. Instantly this circuit is broken, so that core,

but a single spark is had in the engine cylinder,

the'separation of contacts IO and 11, part and as soon as this circuit is broken 14-, ceases to operate as a core and becomes merely a bar of iron. Instantly by reason of the shunt circuit, the helix 25 is incliided in'the circuit above described, energizing thearmature 13 and causing the same to become an electro-magnetwhich is attracted to the bar 14: and held in this-position until the circuit is broken at the timer, when the springs 6 and 4; return the armature to its former position.

{It is to be borne in mind that the armature 3 does not contact with the sleeve 22, and

is thoroughly insulated from the helix 25.

- spark, and the latter maintaining the circuit open to prevent, but a single spark, and pre- -vent any arcing at the timer and also pre .vent loss in electrical energy.

It'will be further noted that in my particular construction a complete magnetic circuit is obtained for either or both of my elect-ro-magnets which, makes necessary but a very "small amount of wire on the magnets .This is of tremendous importance, as it is well known that the induction of resistance in the primary circuit causes more or less reluctance w ich has adetrimental efiect on the spark produced by the secondaryof the induction coil. Hence my improved arrangement of parts economize in material and the simplifiedarrangement produced not only improved electrical results, but result in economy structurally as well'as electrically.

'- Various slight changes'might be made the general formandarrangement of parts 60.

described without departing from my 1nvention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set 'forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

a stationary electro-magnettioned magnet, substantially breaking the primary primary Having thus described my invention,

Letters Patent is:

' 1.,The combination of a primary circuit, a secondary circuit, means formaking and breaking the primary circuit, and means for interrupting the current in the primary circuit comprising a stationary magnet included in circuit with the primary circuit, and a movable magnet included in shunt with the primary circuit, substantially as described.

2. Thecombination of a primary circuit,

a secondary circuit, means for making and. breaking the primary circuit, and 'means for interrupting thecurrent in the primary circuit comprising a cluded in circuit with the primary circuit, a pivoted armature constituting a circuit closing means for the said ma gnet, and means for magnetizing the armature when drawn against the first-mentioned magnet, substantiall'y' as described.

3. The combination of a primary circuit, asecoridary circuit, means for making and breaking the primary circuit, and means for interrupting the current in the primary circuit comprising a stationary magnet included in circuit with the primary circuit,

a pivoted armature constituting a circuit 9 closing means for the said magnet, a helix included in shunt with the primary circuit, said, helix around the armature and insulated therefrom, whereby when said firstmentioned magnet moves the armature to open the circuit, said helix will cause the armature to become a movable magnet and hold itself against the core of the first-men as described. 4. The combination of aprimary circuit, a secondary circuit, means for making and circuit, means for interrupting the current in the primary circuit, and. a movable magnet; included in shunt with the primary circuit and adapted to hold the primary contacts apart after they have been caused to interrupt the primary circuit, substantially as described.

5. An interrupter of the character described, comprising a base, a post on the base, an armature pivotally connected to the post, a stationary contact, a contact on the" armature normally in engagement w1th thestationary contact, said conta'cts, armature post, and base included in a normally closed circuit including a timer and a source of electricity supply, an electro-magnet supported on the base and included 111 said circuit, said electro-magnet adapted when the circuit is closed to draw the armature toward the same a (1 open the circuit, and a helix included in shunt with the first-mentioned circuit, said helix around the armature and insulated therefrom.and

adapted to energize the armature causing what I claim as new and desire to secure by.

stationary magnet in i the same to become an electr c-magnet. and- I hold itselfag ainst the core of the "first-mentionedmagnet, substantiallyas described,

6. An interrupter of the character de- 5 scribed, comprismg a base, a post on the base, an armature pivotally connected to the post, a stationary contact, a contact onthe armature normally in engagement with the stationary contact, said contacts, armature 10 post, and base included in a normally-closed primary circuit including a timerv and a 1 source of. electricity supply, an electromagnet supported on the base and included.

in said circuit, said electrosmagnet adapted 15 when the circuit is closed to draw the arma-l;

ture toward the same and open the circuit, a helix included in shunt with the first-mellto"energize the armature causing the same 'to become an electromagnet and hold itself ,against the core of the first-mentioned magnet, and springs at'both' endsof said. ar-

bring the contacts together whenthe timer opens the'circuit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

'witnesses'i" i KING,

- LMARGARET BE'rz,

. F copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

tioned circuit, said helix around the armature and insulated therefrom and adapted I LEWIS r; RHOADES.

mature adapted to move the armature to 

